• DaPorkchop_@lemmy.ml
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    8 days ago

    okay but unironically if i could inject chlorophyll into my skin and could just lounge in the sun for a few hours a day instead of eating i would sign up immediately

    • SidewaysHighways@lemmy.world
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      8 days ago

      eating would just be for fun, special occasions and i guess anything else we’d be willing to subject ourselves to shitting later

        • Baguette@lemm.ee
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          8 days ago

          Venus fly traps evolved in this specific manner as a result of their environment. They are native to nutrient deficient bogs. They can still perform photosynthesis to create sugars, but that’s just one of many things they need. Cellular activities require things like nitrogen, phosphorus, and some trace elements which are not present in the soil they live in. Venus fly traps get around this by digesting insects for these nutrients. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have the nutrients to sustain cell growth and maintenance.

          The fact that they evolved like this also means that they aren’t evolved to live in nutrient rich soil. All venus fly traps guide say to not put them in regular soil for good reason. Plants don’t understand overnutrition, which means that their roots try to take whatever they can. Excessive nutrients usually end up causing death as the chemical imbalance messes up with cellular activities. Venus fly traps are just much more sensitive to this than other plants.